Margin setting attachment for typewriters



Feb. 3, 1959 DODDS 2,872,012

MARGIN SETTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed March 10, 1958 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IRVIN S. 00008 BYWM PATENT AGENT Feb. 3, 1959 l. DODDS 2,872,012

MARGIN SETTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed March 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WET T1 T l IRV IN 3. 0000s \NVENTOR BY Mffl' PATENT AGENT GIN SETTING ATTACHIVIENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Irvine Dodds, St. 'Catharines, Ontario, Canada Application March 10, 1958, Serial No. 720,178 Claims. Cl. 197-43 This invention relates to typewriters, and more particularly to an improved margin set and centering arrangement therefor.

Margins may be set on conventional typewriting machines now in common usage either by eye, or through calculation based upon one or more scales provided on most models, or, in the alternative from a position calculated from the center of the sheet.

If the former method is adopted, the results, while often acceptable, will not be positive, while according to the latter method, at least seven motions are involved in setting up the margins for a line of a specified length, namely:

(1) Make left calculation;

(2) Adjust carriage to left calculated position;

(3) Set left margin stop;

(4) Make right calculation;

(5) Adjust carriage to right calculated position;

(6) Set right margin stop;

(7) Allow three spaces subsequent to warning bell;

(8) Return carriage to left to begin typing.

There are, of course, many modifications and improvisations of the foregoing, but basically, all involve both calculation and a prescribed sequence of several motions.

In addition, While most typewriters have some provision for centering paper in the carriage, the basic sequence of centering paper is:

(1) Center the carriage.

(2) Fold sheet lengthwise and make a crease in the top center of the sheet.

(3) Align the crease with the center of the paper.

(4) Insert paper in the platen, and

Move the single paper edge guide against the left edge of the paper.

' Both actions are necessary for proper typing and both, according to conventional practice are time consuming, complicated and subject to errors in calculation and visual alignment.

It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide an attachment readily adaptable to all conventional typewriters whereby the margins may be set positively and quickly.

It is another important object of this invention to provide such an attachment as will afford a more efiicient and effective paper centering means than has heretofore been the case.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide such an attachment as may readily be aflixed to any conventional typewriter Without necessitating any change in the construction of the typewriter.

These and other advantageous objects will become apparent through a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional typewriter to which the attachment which forms this invention has been afiixed; and

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the com- 2,872,612 Fatented Feb. 3, 1%59 ponents forming this invention with some parts shown in hidden outline.

The invention consists broadly in the provision of an attachment to the carriage of a conventional typewriter, said attachment having a freelyrotatable pinion gear adapted to actuate two opposed racks, each rack having mounted thereon, towards the extremity thereof, a margin set engaging projection, said attachment being mounted on the space rack on loaded compression springs whereby, upon depression of the attachment, the projections will engage both margin stops, and upon release, will lock both margin stops, together with a frontwardly projecting means for moving both racks relative to the pinion and thus to each other.

In greater detail, and referring now to the drawings, the attachment indicated generally as at 1 is mounted upon the carriage of any conventional typewriter, preferably at an angle of 45 degrees, as may be seen by reference to the drawings.

The attachment comprises a face plate 2 having two to engage the pinion on opposite sides so that motion of one rack in one direction causes corresponding motion of the other rack in the opposite direction upon rotation of the pinion.

The face plate 2 is preferably provided with a cover 20.

The face plate 2 is connected to space rack 30' by means of bolts 6, 6A, 6B and 6C adapted to permit motion of the face plate 2 toward the space rack 30. Each bolt is provided with a compression spring 10, 10A, etc., adapted to load the face plate 2 away from the space rack 30.

On rack 3 a projection 7 is provided adapted to release the right margin stop 8 when face plate 2 is moved towards space rack 30 against the action of the springs 10, 10A, etc., and to permit the right margin stop to engage its respective cogs on the space rack 30 when face plate 2 is in its normal relationship with respect to the space rack 30, i. e., when no load is applied against thesprings 10, 10A, etc. Similarly rack 4 is provided with a projection 11A adapted to release left margin stop 11 when face plate 2 is moved toward space rack 30 against springs 10, 10A, etc., and to lock the left margin stop 11 when face plate 2 is in its normal position.

The racks may be activated by an operating handle 14 affixed to one rack and projecting forward of the cover. Any convenient indicating means such as a scale 15 may be provided on the cover, to show the position of the rack at any time by relative positions of the handle 14.

The operation of this invention for the purpose of setting margins is as follows:

First, with the thumb of the left hand press down on the release button 40 located in the center of the cover 20 which presses down face plate 2 towards the space rack 30 which in turn releases the locks on both left margin stop 11 and right margin stop 8. In this position, moving the operating handle 14 with the right hand, to the left or right causes a crisscross motion of the racks 2 and 3 and the margin stops 11 and 8, consequently extending or decreasing the distance between the margins. To look the margins in any desired position, it is merely necessary to remove your left thumb from the release button 40 and thus the face plate; I

The indicator will provide ready visual indication of the number of typing spaces between the margins.

Centering of paper on the carriage is equally simplified according to the method available under this invention. In order to provide for this feature a second pinion 21 is provided together with a second set of oppositely disposed racks 22 and 23 operating therewith. One paper guide 24 and 25 may be affixed to each rack so thatas one guide is moved in and out, the other guide moves accordingly. Thus two paper guides are provided instead of one as has theretofore been the case, and according to my invention, to center a sheet it is merely necessary to bring one paper guide towards or away from the center of the carriagethis automatically adjusts the other paper guide a corresponding amount. Correct paper centering can therefore be accomplished instantly, Without the necessity of centering the carriage.

The invention has been described With reference to preferred embodiments and to process constructional details.

It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to such preferredembodiments or to such constructional details and such embodiments of the invention as come Within the .scope and purviewof the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1..-In a typewriter having a carriage, a space rack with margin set cogs attached to said carriage at about a 45 angle to the horizontal, and left and right margin stops co-operating with said margin set cogs, a margin setting attachment which comprises a face plate attached to said space rack in such a manner as to be movable towards and away therefrom, means for biasing said face plate-away from said space rack, a rotatable pinion gear mounted at substantially the mid-point of said face plate, two opposed racks longitudinally slidably mounted on said face plate and adapted to engage-said pinion on opposite sides thereof, and a left and right projection, one projection being mounted on each rack towards the outermost extremity thereof, said left and right projections being connected to said left and right margin stops respectively and adapted to cause said margin stops to release their respective cogs when said plate is moved towards the space rack and to cause said margin stops to engage their respective cogs when said plate is in its biased position.

2. A margin setting attachment as claimed in claim 1 together with a cover for said face plate.

3. A margin setting attachment as claimed in claim 2 together With a left and right margin guide mounted upon said cover in longitudinally slidable relationship, a second pinion mounted on the cover at the mid-point thereof, a second pair of opposed racks adapted to engage said second pinion on opposite sides thereof each margin guide being aliixed to one of the racks towards the outermost extremity thereof.

4. A margin setting attachment as claimed in claim 2 together with operating means attached to one of said racks and extending through a slot in the cover for adjusting the relative positions of the margin stops.

5. A margin setting attachment as claimed in claim 4 together with a scale on side cover adapted in cooperation with said means and said slot to indicate the relative positions of the margin stops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

